Switch



(Nn Model.) l l e P. WALL..

SWITCH.

No.,355,360. Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

IHHI

@S8 es. IN

fil/m.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.:

PATRICK WALL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent o. 355,360, dated January 4, 1887.

Application filed May 10, 1886.

switches which are designed to prevent thetrain from being derailed when the switch is opened.

It has foi1 its object an improved construction for this purpose, as below described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a section on a line indicated by the dotted line l in Fig. l.

Referring to the letters of reference marked on the drawings, B B are the rails of the main line, B B the rails of the switch, and B B the laterallyanovable rails of the switch. At r c x are shown the ordinary means of opening and closing the switch.

In describing Fig. 1, the title end of the drawings is considered thetop; but in reference to Fig. 2 the left-hand side must be considered as the top of the sheet. In Fig. l the switch is open, as it might be accidentally left, or from other causes. Vhen the rails B are moved to the right, so that the tapered end of the right-hand rail B cornes against the fixed rail, the switch is set for the main line. Then the rails B are laterally moved the opposite direction, sothat the tapered end ofthe lefthand one rests against the fixed rail B, at this side the switch is set forthe cars to take the side track or switch.

For the purposes of this description the cars are supposed to be running toward the bottom of the sheet.

At c' is a wooden bar with metal plate c on the outer edge. This bar c is between the left-hand rails B B, its outer edge being separated from and running parallel to the inside of the lefthand rail B of themain track. One end of the bar c on the inside is beveled Where it comes against the rail B at this side, so that the line of the outer edge of the bar will be substantially a continuation of the line of the outside of the left-hand rail B.

Serial No. 201,633. (No model.)

D is a bar (having metal-top face a) opposite to bar c', and fitting against the outside of the right-hand rail B. This bar is inclined downward at the end, so that the distance from the top ofthe lower end of the incline to the top ot' the rails will be about equal to the depth of the ange of the car-wheels. The incline is sho'wn at u. (See Fig. 2.) The bars c D are on a level with the top of the rails. If the switch left the main -line on the opposite side to the one here shown, of course the order of the two bars would be reversed. The ends of the bars c D, which point in the direction of the free end of the rails B B, are located at the point in the track where the wheels would leave the rails but for said bars, if the switch was open, as in Fig. l. The bars are of a proper length to bring the wheel e (shown in dotted lilies) back toits normal position on the main rail. To illustrate, theleft-hand wheels would be prevented from leaving their rail B by the parallel bar c', and this fact would cause the right-hand wheels to leave the righthand switch-rail and run on the tiesA, but just as the wheel on this side was about to leave the rail the flange of the wheel would traverse the incline u and roll over the upper face of the bar D until the wheel again found its normal position on the main rail.

I am aware that guard rails and bars have heretofore been employed to prevent the carwheels leaving the rails; but, so far as I am aware, my construction and combination is substantially dierent from any before known.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new is-' The main-line rails, the switch-line rails, the movable switch-rails having the tapered free end, the guard-bar having the beveled end, and the bar having the inclined end for the iiange of the wheels to traverse, all constructed, arranged, and combined substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK WALL. l

Witnesses L. HEITMANN, HENRY NASH. 

